Game apparatus



April 30, 1963 E. WAITE 3,087,731

GAME APPARATUS Filed Sept. 18. 1959 IIlIIIIlllIIlIIllII/llll fill IINVENTORlmz aim,

MWM $5M ATTORNEW United States Patent 3,087,731 GAME APPARATUS EricWaite, 4234 Evanston Ave, Indianapolis, Ind. Filed Sept. 18, 1959, Ser.No. 840,879 5 Claims. (Cl. 273-119) My present invention relates to gameapparatus, and has particular reference to game apparatus of the surfaceprojectile type wherein a ball, marble or suitable game piece ismanually projected or propelled along a playing surface of a game boardby a player adjacent one end of the game board toward a goal or goalslocated at the opposite end thereof.

Numerous game devices of the general type to which the present inventionrelates have been provided, and numerous patents have been granted onsuch devices. In game apparatus of this general type, it is common toprovide a rectangular game board having an upstanding marginal flangesurrounding a relatively flat or slightly convexed playing surface overwhich a small ball, marble or suitable game piece is projected orpropelled by a player located at one end of the game board toward a goalor pocket located at the opposite end thereof, and to provide a manuallyoperated bat-like projector or paddle positioned in front of each goalor pocket which serves as a projector for projecting or propelling thegame piece toward the goal or pocket at the opposite end of the gameboard and also serves as a means for defending the goal or pocket withwhich it is associated to prevent entry of an opponents game piece intosaid goal or pocket. Representative of this general type of gameapparatus, may be mentioned simulated hockey games wherein a game boardof oblong, generally rectangular form, is provided with goals or pocketsat two opposite ends thereof, and is provided with manually operablebat-like members or paddles horizontally disposed with respect to theplaying board, one in front of each goal or pocket and each mounted on avertically extending, manually operable member by means of which thebat-like member or paddle may be given a complete circular sweep toeither prevent entry of an opponents game piece into the goal or pocket,or to project or propel the game piece toward a goal or pocket at theopposite end of the game board. It has also been previously proposed toprovide game apparatus of this general type in which the game board isprovided with a goal or pocket at each of the four corners thereof, witha manually operable bat-like member or paddle in front of each goal orpocket, thus enabling several persons, say four, with two playerslocated at opposite ends of the game board, to participate in the game.

My present invention relates primarily to the manu-ally-operable,bat-like member or paddle positioned in front of each goal or pocket ofgame boards of the general type referred to above, and has as its objectthe provision of means for mounting said bat-like member on the gameboard in front of each of the goals or pockets thereof.

It is an object of my present invention to provide a manually-operable,bat-like member for use with game apparatus of the general type referredto above, which member comprises a vertical rod or spindle with ahorizontally disposed bat or paddle secured thereto intermediate theends thereof, and to provide means for mounting said rod or spindle onthe game board for rotation about its vertical axis, whereby a playermay grasp the upper end of said rod or spindle between his thumb andforefinger and rotate or twirl said rod or spindle to swing thehorizontally-disposed bat or paddle directly over, or slightly above,the uper surface of the game board and into contact with a game piece toproject or propel said game piece toward a goal or pocket at theopposite end of the game board or to prevent the game piece of anopposing "ice 2 player from entering the goal or pocket with which saidbat-like member or paddle is associated.

It is a further object of my present invention to provide amanually-operable, bat-like member of the type above specified, in whichthe vertically positioned, rotatable rod or spindle to which thebat-like member or paddle is secured, is also free to move vertically toa limited extent, between spaced surfaces, to permit the batlike memberor paddle secured thereto to assume various vertical positions above theplaying surface, as distinguished from the bat-like members or paddlesof the prior art which are not capable of such limited verticalmovement.

It is a further object of my present invention to provide novel andeificient means for mounting the aforesaid vertical rod or spindle, inwhich the uppermost member of said mounting means also serveseffectively as a brace or strengthening means for a corner portion ofthe frame of the rectangular game board.

It is a still further object of my present invention to provide abat-like member for a game board of the general type above referred towhich is cheap and easy to manufacture, install and operate; is strongand durable; and is highly eificient in the purposes for which designed.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, andwherein, for the purpose of illustration, I have shown a preferredembodiment of my present invention:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a game apparatus having a plurality of mynew and novel bat-like members applied thereto and constituting a partthereof,

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the game apparatus shown inFIG. '1, taken on the line 2--2 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the game apparatus shown inFIG. 1, taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of one of the cornerportions of the game apparatus shown in FIG. 1, taken on the line 44 ofFIG. 1, and showing the detailed construction of, and the mounting meansfor, the bat-like members or paddles of my present invention.

Referring more in detail to the game apparatus illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which drawings like reference numerals havebeen employed to designate like parts throughout the several views, thenumeral 1 designates, broadly, a rectangular frame consisting of spaced,parallel, longitudinally-extending, upstanding side members 2 and 3, andspaced parallel, transversely-extending, upstanding end members 4 and 5rigidly secured to the opposite ends of side members 2 and 3. The upperor top portion of the rectangular frame is open, i.e., uncovered. Thesame is true of the lower or bottom portion of said rectangular frameexcept that at each of the four corners of the frame, I provide a thin,underlying, triangular piece of Masonite, plywood or the like 6, thebase 7 of each of which pieces extends across the corner portion withwhich the triangular piece is associated. The inner surface of each endmember 4 and 5 is provided with a longitudinally-extending groove 3 fora purpose to be hereinafter described.

The playing surface over which the balls, marbles or like game piecesroll or are projected, comprises a sheet of thin Masonite, plywood orthe like designated, broadly, by the reference numeral 9, which sheet 9'is bent or pressed to slightly convex form with its highest centralportion 10 disposed centrally and transversely of the side members '2and 3 of the rectangular frame 1. The centrally and transverselydisposed highest portion 10 is supported on blocks 11 nailed orotherwise secured to the inner surfaces of side members 2 and 3 and isheld in firm engagement with said blocks by inwardly bowed deflectorplates 12 and 13 nailed or otherwise secured to the inner surfaces ofside members 2 and 3, respectively, which deflector plates 12 and 13overlie the upper surface of sheet 9 immediately above blocks 11. Theopposite ends of sheet 9 are disposed within grooves 8 on the innersurfaces of end members 4 and 5, the four corner portions of sheet 9being cut off at an approximate angle of 45 and having arcuate portions14 centrally located along the lines of cut, which centrally locatedarcuate portions 14 define the leading edges of goals or pockets 15.These goals or pockets 15 are slightly larger than the ball, marble orother game piece employed when playing the game, the object of whichgame is to get the game piece or pieces of a player or players locatedat one end of the game board 1 into the goal or pocket or goals orpockets of an opposing player or players located at the opposite endthereof.

In addition to the convex form of the sheet 9 with its highest portioncentrally and transversely located to cause a game piece thereon toslide or roll toward one or the other end of the game board, the endportions of the sheet 9 at each corner portion thereof are curveddownwardly at a relatively slight angle as best shown in FIG. 2, tocause a game piece to slide or roll toward the goal or pocket at theadjacent corner of the game board. This bending or downward, transversesloping of the corner portions of sheet 9 toward the goals or pockets atthe two corners at each end of the playing surface is accomplished bysupporting the central portion of each end of sheet 9 on a block orcleat 16 secured by nails or other fastening means along the lower Walldefining the groove 8 in the adjacent end members 4 or 5, and is held infirm supporting engagement with said block or cleat by aninwardly-bowed, centrally positioned deflector plate 17 or 18 nailed orotherwise secured to the inner surface of each end member 5 and 4,respectively, which deflector plates 17 and 18 overlie the uppersurfaces of the end portions of sheet 9 immediately above the blocks orcleats 16. The two side portions at each end of sheet 9 on oppositesides of the longitudinal center line of said sheet, are then bentdownwardly to impart to each end portion of sheet 9 a slightly convexcurvature, as best shown in FIG. 2 of the accompanying drawings. Thistransverse convex curvature of the opposite end portions of sheet 9 ismaintained by supporting said end portions at opposite sides thereof onstrips of metal or the like 19, the upper edge of each of said stripsbeing flush with the edge of the lower wall defining groove 8, and thelower edge of each strip resting on the upper surface of one of thetriangular corner pieces 6. Each strip 19 has its ends bent at an angleto engage the inner surfaces of the adjacent side and end members of therectangular frame, which ends are secured to said side and end membersby nails, screws, or other fastening means. The intermediate portion ofeach strip 19 is bent or bowed to correspond to the centrally-positionedarcuate portion 14 at each corner of sheet 9. Four blocks or cleats 20are provided, adapted for positioning Within grooves 8, with their uppersurfaces underlying the walls defining the upper walls of said groovesand with their lower surfaces engaging the upper surfaces of the endportions of sheet 9 immediately above the ends of strip 19 which aresecured to the end members 4 and 5 of the rectangular frame 1. 1 alsoprovide blocks or cleats 21 nailed or otherwise secured to the innersurface of side members 2 and 3 and overlying the sheet 9 near oppositeends thereof, which blocks or cleats 21 assist in maintaining theconvex, transverse curvature at the end portions of sheet 9.

The bat-like members or paddles which I provide and with which mypresent invention is primarily concerned, each comprises a vertical rodor spindle 22 having a radially-extending bat or paddle '23 rigidlysecured thereto intermediate the ends thereof. The lower end portion ofrod or spindle 22 passes through an aperture in sheet 9 slightly inadvance of, or in front of, one of the goals or pockets 15 andterminates slightly above the upper surface of sheet 6 with the bat orpaddle 23 overlying the upper surface of sheet 9 and preferably spacedslightly above said surface by means of a relatively thin spacing washer24. The upper end portion of rod or spindle 22 is journalled in, andextends through and above, a strip 25 which extends diagonally across acorner of the game board and has its opposite ends secured to the uppersurfaces of side members 2 or 3 and end members 4 or 5 by nails, screwsor other suitable fastening means.

The vertical distance between the upper surface of sheet 9 and theundersurface of strip 25 is greater than the diameter of the bat orpaddle member 23, and is also greater than the diameter of the balls ormarbles used when playing the game, and the length of the rod or spindle22 below said sheet 9 is greater than the vertical distance between theupper surface of the bat or paddle 23 and the undersurface of strip 25.By virtue of this construction, a player may engage the upper end of therod or spindle 22 which projects above the upper surface of strip 25,between his or her thumb and forefinger and may rotate said rod orspindle to swing the bat or paddle 23 about the axis of the rod orspindle 22. The player may also lift the rod or spindle 22 verticallyfrom the full line position shown in FIG. 4 to the overlying dotted lineposition shown in said figure, which results in the striking of theball, marble or other game piece at varying heights on the surfacethereof, and also enables the balls, marbles or other game pieces usedin playing the game, to be of various sizes, from a relative small sizeto a size slightly less than the vertical distance between the uppersurface of sheet 9 and the undersurface of strip 25. In the preferredembodiment of my invention, the strip is made of clear, rigid andtransparent material, to avoid obscuring the players view of the goal orpocket behind and beneath said strip. The strip 25 has an aperturetherein to provide an upper bearing for the vertical rod or spindle 22,and as it extends diagonally across the corner between the upstandingside and end walls which define said corner, it will be readily apparentthat the strip 25 serves as a brace or corner reinforcement for the gameboard which adds materially to the strength and rigidity of the gameboard.

Having thus described the construction of one form of game board and ofthe bat-like members or paddles positioned in front of each goal orpocket thereof, it is believed that it will be readily apparent how thegame is played and how my novel bat-like member or paddle functions as agame accessory or projector. Sufiice it to say, for the purpose of thepresent specification, that the game board 1 is placed on a smooth andlevel surface such as a table top or counter. One or two players take uppositions at opposite ends of the game board and grasp the upper ends ofthe rods or spindles 22 of the bat-like members or paddles at cornerportions of the adjacent end of the game board. A small ball, marble orsuitable game piece is then placed at the highest central portion 10 ofthe playing surface from which it will roll or slide toward one or theother ends of the game board due to the convex curvature of sheet 9 andtoward one or the other corners at that end of the game board due to thetransverse, convex curvature of the end portions of said sheet. As thegame piece approaches one of the goals or pockets 15, the player havingcontrol of the bat-like member or paddle in advance of the goal orpocket toward which the game piece is approaching, will wait until thesaid game piece comes within the surface area swept by the bat or paddle23, at which time he will impart vigorous rotation of the rod or spindle22, thus contacting the bat or paddle 23 with the game piece to preventthe same from entering the goal or pocket with which said bat-'likemember or paddle is associated and to project or propel the game piecetoward the opposite end of the game board and toward one or the othergoals or pockets located at said opposite end. This batting orprojecting of the game piece from one end of the game board toward thegoals or pockets at the opposite end thereof is continued until one ofthe players is successful in getting the game piece into one of thegoals or pockets at the opposite end of the game board. The player orplayers who get the greatest number of goals in a given period of play,wins the game. Considerable skill is required of the players, and thewinning of the game depends, to a large extent upon the manner in whicha player actuates the vertical rod or spindle 22 and the hat or paddle23 secured thereto. It will be obvious that the side and end deflectorplates 12 and 13, and 17 and 18, respectively, when contacted by a gamepiece during the playing of the game, serve effectively to divert thegame piece inwardly toward the central area of the game board. The forcerequired to propel the game piece need be only a relatively moderateforce, because once the game piece passes the highest central portion 10disposed centrally and transversely of the game board, the game piecewill roll or slide toward one of the goals or pockets at the end of thegame board beyond said highest central portion 10.

It is to: be understood that the form of my invention shown anddescribed herein is to be taken as a preferred embodiment thereof, andthat various changes may be made in the shape, size, and arrangement ofparts without departing from the spirit of my present invention or fromthe scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my present invention, I claim:

1. Game apparatus of the surface projectile type comprising a generallyrectangular sheet forming a playing surface defined by upstandingmarginal side and end members; a goal on said playing surface at acorner thereof to receive a game piece projected therein; said sheethaving an aperture therein adjacent said corner and in front of saidgoal; a strip extending diagonally across and above said corner andhaving its ends secured to the upper portion of the upstanding side andend members defining said corner, said strip having an aperture thereinin vertical alignment with the aperture in said sheet; and amanually-operable game piece projector in front of said goal andcomprising a vertical spindle having a radially-extending bat membersecured thereto intermediate the ends thereof and overlying a portion ofsaid playing surface; the upper end portion of said spindle passingthrough and terminating above the aperture in said strip and the lowerend portion of said spindle passing through and terminating below theaperture in said sheet, whereby said spindle is mounted for rotationabout its axis to swing the bat into contact with a game piece on saidportion of said playing surface to propel the same away from said o al.

g 2. Game apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said spindle isvertically movable within the aligned apertures to vary the verticaldistance of the bat above the playing surface.

3. Game apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the vertical distancebetween the playing surface and the under surface of said strip isgreater than the vertical dimension of the game piece employed inplaying the game to permit said game piece to pass beneath said stripand into the goal at the corner of the playing surface.

4. Game apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the length of the lowerportion of the spindle which extends through and below the aperture insaid sheet is greater than the distance between the upper surface of thebat secured to the intermediate portion of said spindle and the undersurface of said strip whereby said spindle may be raised verticallyuntil the bat thereon contacts the under surface of said strip withoutwithdrawing said lower portion of said spindle out of the aperture insaid sheet.

5. Game apparatus of the surface projectile type comprising a generallyrectangular sheet forming a playing surface defined by marginal side andend members, a goal on said playing surface at a corner thereof adaptedto receive a game piece projected therein, a diagonally disposed bracingstrip extending across and spaced above a portion of said corner adistance sufficient to permit passage thereunder of a game piece, saidbracing strip being positioned outwardly of said goal and having itsopposite ends secured to the side and end members, a manually-operablegame piece projector comprising a vertical spindle and a radiallyextending bat member intermediate the upper and lower portions of saidspindle, a first aperture in the bracing strip intermediate the endsthereof, a second aperture in the playing surface at said cornerthereof, said second aperture being in substantially vertical alignmentwith said first aperture in said bracing strip, the upper portion ofsaid projector spindle extending through and journalled in said firstaperture and the lower portion of said spindle extending through andjournalled in said second aperture whereby the bat member is mounted infront of the goal for pivotal movement in the space between the bracingstrip and the playing surface therebelow.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,606,826 Burger Nov. 16, 1926 1,696,408 McMahon Dec. 25, 1928 2,230,743Davis Feb. 4, 1941 2,382,328 Munro Aug. 14, 1945 2,769,638 Knapp Nov. 6,1956 2,775,457 Galbos Dec. 25, 1956

1. GAME APPARATUS OF THE SURFACE PROJECTILE TYPE COMPRISING A GENERALLYRECTANGULAR SHEET FORMING A PLAYING SURFACE DEFINED BY UPSTANDINGMARGINAL SIDE AND END MEMBERS; A GOAL ON SAID PLAYING SURFACE AT ACORNER THEREOF TO RECEIVE A GAME PIECE PROJECTED THEREIN; SAID SHEETHAVING AN APERTURE THEREIN ADJACENT SAID CORNER AND IN FRONT OF SAIDGOAL; A STRIP EXTENDING DIAGONALLY ACROSS AND ABOVE SAID CORNER ANDHAVING ITS ENDS SECURED TO THE UPPER PORTION OF THE UPSTANDING SIDE ANDEND MEMBERS DEFINING SAID CORNER, SAID STRIP HAVING AN APERTURE THEREININ VERTICAL ALIGNMENT WITH THE APERTURE IN SAID SHEET; AND AMANUALLY-OPERABLE GAME PIECE PROJECTOR IN FRONT OF SAID GOAL ANDCOMPRISING A VERTICAL SPINDLE HAVING A RADIALLY-EXTENDING BAT MEMBERSECURED THERETO INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS THEREOF AND OVERLYING A PORTION OFSAID PLAYING SURFACE; THE UPPER END PORTION OF SAID SPINDLE PASSINGTHROUGH AND TERMINATING ABOVE THE APERTURE IN SAID STRIP AND THE LOWEREND PORTION OF SAID SPINDLE PASSING THROUGH AND